On Monday afternoon, Dr. Geoff Hammond, President of the North American Mission Board, was with us for a few minutes in our staff meeting, then I met with him privately.  He reminded us that the American population is now at 303 million people.  What a tremendous opportunity exists for us as we try to reach this nation for Jesus Christ.

I also read today that by 2012 the world will have a population of over 7 billion people. Again, what a superb opportunity to reach people for Jesus around the world.  What are the keys we must keep in mind?

• Vision:  We must have a vision to reach those who are lost and unchurched.
• Strategy:  We must have an intentional strategy to reach those who need to be reached.
• Diversity:  We must remember the population in America and the world is very diverse; therefore, we have to reach all kinds of people who are from all kinds of people groups who speak all kinds of languages.
• Wisdom:  We must be wise in every move we make in reaching this population.
• Launch:  We must launch new churches everywhere to reach into this diverse population.

Yes, these are just five of the keys, but there are so many more.  Let’s work hard and pray hard for God to use us to reach America and the world for Jesus Christ.

This is an exciting day filled with great opportunities!

I was thinking today, there is nothing like God moving among us. Just think back over this past week of God’s activity among us and through our people.  Through two of our missionary journeys, we saw 218 people come to Christ this past week.

Through our MOTION Student missionary journey to Oklahoma City, 208 people came to Christ and out of our Shiloh Missionary Journey to San Diego, 10 people came to Christ. We serve an amazing Lord that chooses to use people all ages, using all kinds of methodologies, in order to open doors for the gospel to be presented.  I am so proud of these students and adults who gave their Spring Break to advance the gospel.

And then, through yesterday’s THREE DAYS experience, we saw the Lord fall down upon us and touch our lives. It was a blessing to see our people involved in leadership via drama and music, concluded by a message from God’s Word the Lord had given to me on the Compassion of Jesus Christ.

Day 2:  The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ is our theme next Sunday. Look forward with us to seeing the Lord move among us. We will take the Lord’s Supper as a part of that day, along with worship, drama, and preaching.  What a grand opportunity to invite others to come with you.

The week before us is full of plentiful opportunities to demonstrate the COMPASSION OF JESUS CHRIST. His compassion is real and powerful.  It is demonstrated by us seeing what Jesus sees, feeling what Jesus feels, and doing what Jesus does.  Yes, those opportunities abound for all of us.  Let’s be what Jesus wants us to be, feel what Jesus wants us to feel, and do what Jesus wants us to do.

Get ready, God is going to move in your life this week.

This coming Sunday, March 29, we will begin to experience the powerful and dramatic musical presentation of THREE DAYS. The first of the three days will be The Day of Compassion. On April 5 we will focus on The Day of Sacrifice. And on Easter Weekend April 11 and 12 – the Day of Triumph. I will close each week’s presentation with a message that God has given me. Please use these three weeks to invite and bring people with you. This will serve as a great tool in your hands for the gospel of Jesus Christ to influence the lives of others. Most people come to church when invited. Please make inviting others your priority during these weeks.

We will offer six services over Easter Weekend between both campuses:

Saturday, April 11

• 5:00 p.m. Pinnacle Hills (I will be speaking)
• 6:30 p.m. Springdale (I will be speaking)

Sunday, April 12

• 9:15 a.m. Springdale (I will be speaking)
• 9:15 a.m. Pinnacle Hills (Simulcast message from Springdale)
• 10:55 a.m. Pinnacle Hills (I will be speaking)
• 10:55 a.m. Springdale (Nick Floyd will be speaking)

“I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.” Ever feel like DEBT weighs you down and keeps you from enjoying the very thing you purchased with it? Isn’t it funny how that happens? If you have experienced debt, you can fully understand what the writer of Proverbs meant when he said, “The borrower is servant to the lender.” Not only is debt bondage, but it prevents us fully serving the Master because we have looked to a lesser god for our provision. Our Savior paid a high price for our freedom, and He really wants us to enjoy all He died to give us! While the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came that we might have and enjoy life, to the full, till it overflows. (John 10:10 AMP)  It just sounds good to hear that, doesn’t it? Let’s talk about some practical steps we can take to move away from debt and toward financial freedom.

First, stop the debt train. Let your motto become, “If it calls for debt, the answer is no.” Next, begin to eliminate the debt you do have. Don Tyson communicated his business strategy with three profound words, “SEGMENT, CONCENTRATE, DOMINATE.” This business strategy is also a great debt reduction strategy. Itemize your current debts into SEGMENTS by listing each one in order from least amount owed to greatest amount owed. CONCENTRATE your efforts on the smallest debt first. Pay the minimum amounts for all other the debts and give any extra dollars you can to the first creditor on your list. When the first debt is completely paid off, add the amount you were paying toward the first debt to the second debt on your list and begin to DOMINATE in debt reduction. Keep repeating this cycle until you are completely debt free.

Are you afraid this process might be painful or too restrictive? Ask yourself a simple question, “Is what you are doing working?” If the answer is no, why not make a CHANGE? I think you will find taking these steps toward financial freedom will bring great peace and many rewards. Lyle and I can tell you from personal experience it feels GREAT to have no debt besides our home, and we are actively working on that goal. When the Master comes to take an account of what He has entrusted to you, will He be able to say to you, “Well done, you have been faithful over a little; I will put you in charge of much”? (See Matthew 25) As you put your financial house in order, prepare to receive greater blessings by which you can be a blessing to others!

Caleb, Leah, Will, & Asher

Are you sitting there, like me, wondering what happened to the confidence of America? Why every piece of bad news sends the stock market into a “Sky is Falling” mentality?  Why are we so shaky?  So insecure?  So dependent upon the next piece of news to be good or we’ll just crumble?  Reality is that we are pretty far removed from being able to help with a bailout (besides the fact that as a taxpayer we now own the bad debt).

Hopefully you are like me and wondering, “Is there anything I can do about it?” or maybe asking yourselves, “Is there something I can change to make the situation better?”  I’ve got good news!!!  THERE IS and I have a plan that can help bring confidence back to the American consumer.  It’s literally that, “A plan.”  Let’s call it a Spending Plan for your family.

You see, the sad state of our nation is that the majority of people have been living paycheck-to-paycheck and with a mentality of “If I want it, I can get it right now.” That practice has put us all into the current economic situation we are in today.  BUT… We can change it and it doesn’t require us to stop spending.  It simply requires us to take control of our spending.  Make sense?  Maybe not, so let me ask you a question:

How many of you would rather tell their money where to go, instead of wondering where it went? I’m praying that your response is, “I WOULD!”  If that is the case, take a look at these two forms and fill them out for you or your family:

• Cash Flow Plan
• Allocated Spending Plan

Okay, if you just opened the form, you saw that it’s three pages long.  I apologize for the shock.  The goal is not to scare you away, but hopefully to make you aware of how detailed you should be with your plan.

I guarantee that once you start living on a spending plan that tells EVERY DOLLAR where to go, you’ll start seeing four things in your life:

1. Your dollar WILL go further
2. Your relationship with your spouse is BETTER, as you communicate and agree on a plan
3. You will have CONFIDENCE in your spending
4. You’ll be BLESSED, because you are managing the resources God has given you.  It’s in the Bible!  (Proverbs 3:9-10)

By controlling our stuff, instead of our stuff controlling us, we can live as King Solomon told his son towards the end of Proverbs 3:27-28. We will be able to “take care of our neighbors, not withholding good from those who deserve it”.  A direct result of telling our money where to go, “it will be within our power to act.”  Our choices will no longer be limited by our indebtedness.  Just imagine how we, the church, could encourage our country with this new found confidence and spirit of giving.

Hello Everyone – I have the opportunity this week while Pastor is away to communicate to you about the financial ministry in our church. Our church is here to help in these trying times! With fluctuating gas prices, home foreclosures, loss of jobs, and bank closings, we are left to wonder how much more can we withstand.

Managing your personal finances is important; but it will become more important as you prepare to buy a home or make another large purchase in the future. You need to be aware that in finding a job now, most employers conduct a credit check before a decision is made to hire you. Bottom line, your financial health is more important today than ever.

At First Baptist Church and The Church at Pinnacle Hills, we offer help and direction for you. Last December we led all of our Connection Groups through “Finding Freedom.” Finding Freedom is a two-hour course that gets you started with seven basics steps for your personal financial planning. We also offer Financial Peace University classes at both campuses and for those who need immediate financial coaching, we offer help by contacting Kelley Nicholson at 751-3178.

We will once again offer help and direction in the fall with “Finding Freedom.” Listed below are Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps to perhaps get you started thinking about your personal finances.

1. One thousand dollar emergency fund
2. Begin to pay off debt
3. Three to six month expenses in savings
4. Begin to invest in IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans
5. College funding
6. Prepare to pay off your home
7. Build wealth and give!

In the next few days, we will be sharing stories with you from our Connection Group leaders and others who are living the freedom that you can also enjoy.

Because of all that is happening in our nation at this time, most people are absolutely paralyzed with fear. The online dictionary, Wikipedia, defines fear as “an emotional response to threat or danger.”  Fear does harmful things to us today, but also has a damaging effect for the future.

• Fear paralyzes you in the present.
• Fear forfeits your future.

The Greek word for fear is “deilia,” meaning “cowardice and timidity, coming from a weak character.”  We need to call fear out for what it really is:

• Cowardice
• Shameful
• Demonic

Denounce fear in your life today. Call it out for what it is and rebuke it – - this will be the beginning of overcoming it!  We can face the future without fear:

• In the power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the power to overcome ALL obstacles and dangers.
• With the love of Jesus Christ
• With sound judgment that only comes from God and His Word.

We cannot fight the fight or face the future with fear, so make the choice today to overcome it through the power of the Holy Spirit, with the love of Jesus, and with sound judgment from God’s Word.  Then, someday, you will be able to say:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Be here on Sunday to worship together with your family of faith and get another word from God!

We all have things we worry about every day. God knows that, and He spoke of it in Matthew 6: 25-34.  He specifically mentioned three areas, and most of us are guilty of worrying about these things:

1. Our lives
2. Our needs
3. What tomorrow holds

Unfortunately, we also have a false sense of security, thinking that the comforts of life and material things will relieve our concerns. God is shaking all of that in many of our lives today.

In the Greek, the word “worry” is defined in this way, “to be drawn in different directions, to be pulled apart.” This is exactly what worry does to us – it pulls us apart from inside!  It also shows that we have little faith in God’s sovereignty and power.  The bottom line is that worry is sinful.

What we need to do is realize that God already knows our needs. We must continually work at living under God’s rule, by His will, striving to become like Jesus.  Then, we can watch God provide for us.  Instead of worrying, we need to pray about ALL of our needs.

Make a decision today to place your trust totally in God.  Have a great day!

Oh my, the family was all together at our home for dinner tonight and oh, wow! The children were children all the way.  Activity never stopped.  Jeana cooked dinner.  We all chase the children.  Meredith was very sick Saturday and Sunday, so she was barely functioning tonight, mostly laid on the couch trying to recover in the midst of the “children storm.”  We had discipline going on, apologies happening, and emotions flowing in this storm.  Finally, I determined to take the children on a little ride on a golf cart and that calmed the storm temporarily.

Jeana and I will keep the boys for a few nights coming up next week as Josh and Kate lead a Shiloh Mission Trip to our San Diego church plant. Don and Mona, Kate’s parents, will have the boys part of the time, then Jeana and I will take them to finish the relay race.  They are great, but we are not used to this all the time.  Our guys have grown up!  Oh my, these are their children.

It is a joy to have them all together.  The noise, the emotions, the cries, and the laughs.  The hugs and kisses far outweigh all the rest.  In fact, it helps you not to even remember the other.  How blessed we are to have them and this opportunity in life.

God is good . . . yes, all the time!